Improvement in bearings tor rudder-heads



ctn-imi g sulla @anni @twine 4Lateral Bearings ot' the, Itndder-Posts of Ships and l being had to the accompanying drawings, which form RETIRE STURGES, OFBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS;

Letters Patent'No. 98,719, dated Janna/ry 11, 1870.

IMPROVEMBNT IN BEARING-S IOR RUBBER-HEADS.

The Schedule referred to in thus Letters Patent and making part of the name.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RETIRE O. STURGEs, of Boston, in the county of Suii'olk, and State of -lllassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the other Vessels; and I do hereby declare thatl the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference a portion of this specification,

Figure l being a top view' of a portion of the stern of a vessel which has my said improvement combined therewith;

Figure 2, a vertical section in the line a: x of fig. 1; and

Figure 3 is a view of one of the said rudder-post lateral bearings detached. l

The same letters indicate the same parts in'each of the'drawings.

Where rudder-posts 'have the usual amount of lateral play in their bearings, the severe action of the waves thereupon causes a sharp and contin nous pounding of the rudder-.posts against said bearings, which pounding action adds greatly to the labor of the steers man, whilst it steadily wears upon therudder-post and its bearings. 4 l

.All of the aforementioned imperfections I remedy by the use of roller-bearings, a a, made of vulcanized rubber, Vor some other suitable elastic substance,

placed in metallic holders, b b, and secured to the deck and other-portions of a vessel, in such positions as to act and react against the rudder-post and each other, in such a manner as to prevent all concussive vibrations of the rudder-post against its bearings, and

by `so doing `enabling it to be smoothly and more easily turned upon its axis by the steersman, whilst engaged in guiding the vessel along its destined way.

Having thus fully described my invention, I wish it understood that I do not clainrthe principle of elastically-acting rudder-bearings; but Y Y What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of a series of removable rollers of vulcanized rubber, or gutta-percha, with the deck of a vessel, in such positions, with relation to each other and to the rudder 'of the same, as to furnish the requisite lateral bearings for said rudder, substantially as herein set fort-h.

In testimony that the aforegoing is a full and clear i specification of my improvement in the lateral bearings of the rudder-posts of ships and other vessels, I hereunto subscribe my name.

Witnesses:

K. W. BAKER, 4 OEPHAs I. AMES. 

